Move FM Australian News

Cincinnati – Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Richard Gasquet on Monday on his return to singles competition in Cincinnati following a seven-month hip injury lay-off.

The Scot hadn’t played a singles match since a first-round exit at the Australian Open in January and feared his career was over, but right hip resurfacing surgery allowed him to return.

However Frenchman Gasquet was too strong for the 32-year-old, who was seen off in straight sets at the warm-up for the US Open.

Results on Monday in the WTA/ATP Cincinnati Masters (x-denotes seeding):

Men

1st round

Sam Querrey (USA) bt Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1)

Lucas Pouille (FRA) bt Denis Kudla (USA) 6-3, 7-6 (8/6)

Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 6-3, 6-3

Radu Albot (MDA) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x14) 6-4, 7-6 (8/6)

Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Andy Murray (SCO) 6-4, 6-4

Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) bt Jordan Thompson (AUS) 7-5, 5-7, 6-4

Guido Pella (ARG) bt Casper Ruud (NOR) 7-5, 7-6 (7/4)

Adrian Mannarino (FRA) bt Christian Garin (CHI) 6-4, 6-1

Women

1st round

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x9) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 6-1, 6-4

Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt Camila Giorgi (ITA) 6-3, 6-0

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) bt Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-2, 6-3

Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) bt Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3

Venus Williams (USA) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 7-5, 6-2

Elise Mertens (BEL) bt Caty McNally (USA) 7-5, 6-0

Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) bt Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-1